For Immediate Release: October 9, 2012
Contact: Anne Gordon, (916) 491-3821
Statement from the Executive Officer:
California's Intolerance of Human Trafficking
New bills strip traffickers of profits and give back to victims
Sacramento, CA - Victim services advocate Julie Nauman applauds the signing of two important bills that will make it more difficult for human traffickers to hide their assets and provide victims more restitution.
"The signing of AB 2466 and SB 1133 undeniably demonstrates that California will not tolerate human trafficking," said Julie Nauman, Executive Officer for the California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP). "Far too often the victim is overlooked or overshadowed. Victims are entitled to restitution and these bills protect victims' rights."
Prior to the passage of Assembly Bill 2466 (Blumenfield), defendants were able to liquidate and hide their assets before conviction. The bill now allows a court to "seize and freeze" a defendant's assets during prosecution so restitution can be paid to their victim.
Under Senate Bill 1133 (Leno), profits generated from human trafficking crimes involving minors will be taken from convicted defendants. Vehicles, boats, airplanes, money, negotiable instruments, securities, real property or other things of value used for the purpose of facilitating human trafficking are now permissible to forfeiture. Such funds are distributed to the General Fund of the state or local governmental entity and to the Victim-Witness Assistance Fund to be used for grants to community-based organizations that serve victims of human trafficking.
The Attorney General's office reports that human trafficking is one of the world's most profitable criminal enterprises, estimated to be a $32 billion industry, which strips people of the very freedoms promised by our nation. The Victim Compensation Program receives approximately 55,000 applications each year from victims of human trafficking, rape, assault, and domestic violence, among others. Our program stands ready to assist eligible trafficked victims, providing funding for relocation, mental health counseling and medical and dental care.
For more information about CalVCP visit: www.calvcp.ca.gov
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The California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP) provides compensation for victims of violent crime who are injured or threatened with injury. Among the crimes covered are domestic violence, child abuse, sexual and physical assault, homicide, robbery, and vehicular manslaughter.
If a person meets eligibility criteria, CalVCP will compensate many types of services when the costs are not covered by other sources. Eligible services include medical and dental care, mental health services, income loss, funeral expenses, rehabilitation and relocation. Funding for CalVCP comes from restitution fines and orders, penalty assessments levied on persons convicted of crimes and traffic offenses, and matching federal funds.